the automatic car that loves to dance on ice

RICK..._2

I have an Insignia auto hire car and it's awful on ice. Even when pulling off at snail pace, the wheels still lose traction. Also it says 'shift denied' when trying to change gear manually when at a stand still and only lets you change gear at a certain amount of revs when moving.

My actual car is identical spec, same tyres etc except it's a manual, and it pulls off fine.

Gloomendoom

RICK... wrote: »

I have an Insignia auto hire car and it's awful on ice. Even when pulling off at snail pace, the wheels still lose traction. Also it says 'shift denied' when trying to change gear manually when at a stand still and only lets you change gear at a certain amount of revs when moving.

My actual car is identical spec, same tyres etc except it's a manual, and it pulls off fine.

Is it a DSG type box?

RICK..._2

I'm not clued up on them at all but I don't think it is

movilogo

I'm not sure about Insignia but Vauxhall Corsa uses a DSG style auto. It's an automated manual and thus worse of both worlds.

Traditional torque converter autos are fine in snow (unless they are RWD with summer tyres). The creep feature makes them a joy to drive on rough surface.

jackieb

Since my last post my OH has bought a C class, also an auto. Even after how bad I told him they were he still did it. Last winter I drove for 3 days out of 4 weeks. Had to borrow my dad's 10yo Astra - that thing was like a little plough. Our one is just an embarrassment. I don't think the Merc dealer in Aberdeen will get much trade in the winter as you have to drive up a slope to get out of the car park!

jackieb

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

A neighbour up the hill from us had a "S" class saloon, when we were all snowed up last year several of us clearing snow watched with interest as she came down our hill sideways. We did not have any sightings of her returning hime for quite some while.

We were slip sliding down a slope when an old banger overtook us no problem. This was just days after we got the car. That was the first of many, 'I told you so!' and 'oh shut up!'s

RICK..._2

Mrs had a Toyota Aygo last winter and it flew across the snow/ice, like it wasn't even there. Best car I've ever driven in the snow lol

C_Mababejive

Its an old thread but seasonal..i may have commented previously? Autos in Ice? ften useless. Friend has anAuto SLK and she wont drive it in snow/ice as it is uncontrollable. I have a mk3 20 year old golf and it is perfectly possible to drive fast down a straight road in snow/ice,brake suddenly,,and well,,it just stops...( for test purposes only)

movilogo

From the comment I see that many people fail the see the point.

Light FWD cars perform better (especially if they have narrow tyres) on snow than large RWD cars (with wide sports tyres).

Narrow tyres cut the snow where as wide tyres glide over it. Wide tyres are good for summer performance but useless in snow.

If people are riding RWD cars, they should fit winter tyres and not blame the car. It's the laws of physics. FWD cars have engine weight on driven wheels so they perform better in snow.

Snow performance is all down the tyres.

But I do agree that some DSG autos are very hesitant in snow. The computer just can't fathom on what surface the car is driven on

sunshinetours

movilogo wrote: »

From the comment I see that many people fail the see the point.

Light FWD cars perform better (especially if they have narrow tyres) on snow than large RWD cars (with wide sports tyres).

Narrow tyres cut the snow where as wide tyres glide over it. Wide tyres are good for summer performance but useless in snow.

If people are riding RWD cars, they should fit winter tyres and not blame the car. It's the laws of physics. FWD cars have engine weight on driven wheels so they perform better in snow.

Snow performance is all down the tyres.

But I do agree that some DSG autos are very hesitant in snow. The computer just can't fathom on what surface the car is driven on

Its a wonder Germany manages to function with all those Mercs and BMW's in their harsher winters than ours......... oh yes they fit winter tyres - must be a coincidence......;)

I lost count of the number of Merc's and fellow BMW's I drove round in the heavy (for us) snow last year with looks of astonishment from some. Winter tyres absolutely transform powerful RWD cars. They are ever more necessary as tyres become lower profile and larger which is about the worst set up for winter conditions.

Driver education is of course at least as important